Biography

NoteCARDS:

Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Missouri. Appeared in 31 games (nine starts) during his first two seasons, totaling 16.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Appeared in all 16 games in 2016, totaling 63 tackles and leading the team with a career-high 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Also added 23 QB Hits, 19 QB pressures, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and two passes defensed.

His 12.5 sacks ranked third in the NFL last season and are the highest single-season total in franchise history by a linebacker.

He put up two of the longest sack streaks in franchise history in 2016: became the first player in team history with at least one sack in each of the first five games of a season and finished the year with at least one sack in each of the final four games.

Along with teammate Chandler Jones (11.0), gave Cardinals two players with double-digit sacks for just the third time in franchise history and the first time since 1984

Played in 15 games with six starts as a rookie in 2015, totaling 37 tackles, 4.0 sacks, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Also posted a team-high 16 QB pressures and finished second on the team with 14 QB hits.

Pro Career:

Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft, Golden played in 31 games (nine starts) in the regular season and also started both postseason contests he has appeared in.

NoteCARDS:

Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Missouri. Appeared in 31 games (nine starts) during his first two seasons, totaling 16.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Appeared in all 16 games in 2016, totaling 63 tackles and leading the team with a career-high 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Also added 23 QB Hits, 19 QB pressures, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and two passes defensed.

His 12.5 sacks ranked third in the NFL last season and are the highest single-season total in franchise history by a linebacker.

He put up two of the longest sack streaks in franchise history in 2016: became the first player in team history with at least one sack in each of the first five games of a season and finished the year with at least one sack in each of the final four games.

Along with teammate Chandler Jones (11.0), gave Cardinals two players with double-digit sacks for just the third time in franchise history and the first time since 1984

Played in 15 games with six starts as a rookie in 2015, totaling 37 tackles, 4.0 sacks, five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Also posted a team-high 16 QB pressures and finished second on the team with 14 QB hits.

Pro Career:

Selected by the Cardinals in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft, Golden played in 31 games (nine starts) in the regular season and also started both postseason contests he has appeared in.

2016: Played in all 16 games (three starts) and led the team with a career-high 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss while tying for the team lead with four forced fumbles … 12.5 sacks ranked third in the NFL, are the highest total in franchise history for a linebacker and are the most by a Cardinal since Bertrand Berry had 14.5 in 2004 … also had 63 tackles, two passes defensed, a fumble recovery, 23 QB hits and 19 QB pressures … had a sack and forced fumble of Jimmy Garoppolo in second quarter that helped lead to a Cardinals TD vs. NE (9/11); added four tackles, including one for loss, and one pass defensed … sacked Jameis Winston for a nine-yard loss vs. TB (9/18); also had two solo tackles for loss … posted his third consecutive game with a sack when he brought down Tyrod Taylor for an eight-yard loss in the third quarter @ Buf (9/25); also recorded seven tackles, including one for loss … collected two tackles, one for loss, and a sack vs. LAR (10/2); 14-yard sack of Case Keenum marked his fourth straight game with a sack; joined Chandler Jones (also in 2016) as the only players in team history with a sack in each of the season’s first four games … registered then career highs with 11 tackles and 2.0 sacks @ SF (10/6); made him first player in team history with at least one sack in each of first five games of season; led team with three tackles for loss, three QB pressures and three QB hits … had six tackles while leading the team with four QB pressures and three QB hits vs. Sea (10/23); also forced a Russell Wilson fumble … notched three tackles, including one for loss @ Car (10/30) … sacked Matt Ryan for six-yard loss to force a punt on opening drive of third quarter @ Atl (11/27); also had a team-leading three QB hits … recovered Kirk Cousins fumble in the third quarter and returned it 20 yards to set up a go-ahead TD vs. Was (12/4); added three tackles and team-leading three QB pressures … sacked Drew Brees and forced a fumble in second quarter that Calais Campbell returned 53 yards for a TD vs. NO (12/18); added two tackles, with one for loss … posted a team-high two sacks @ Sea (12/24); gave him 10.0 sacks on the season, becoming the first Cardinal with double-digit sacks in a year since John Abraham had 11.5 in 2013 and the 10th player overall in franchise history with 10+ sacks in a season; also had three tackles, including two for loss, and three QB hits … recorded career-best 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble @ LAR (1/1/17); gave him 5.5 sacks over season’s last three games; had a team-high three tackles for loss and tied for team lead with three QB hits, also had one pass defensed.

2015: Played in 15 games (six starts) and totaled 37 tackles and 4.0 sacks … led the team with 16 QB pressures and finished second with 14 QB hits … also had five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one special teams tackle … started both playoff games and had 11 tackles, three QB hits and two QB pressures … recorded three tackles in his NFL debut vs. NO (9/13) … shared a sack with Kareem Martin in the fourth quarter for his first career sack @ Chi (9/20); also had two tackles … had a half-sack with Calais Campbell in the first quarter vs. StL (10/4); added two tackles on defense and one special teams tackle … made first career start and recorded a season-high six tackles, including two for loss @ Pit (10/18) … recorded one tackle for loss, two QB pressures and a team-high four QB hits @ Cle (11/1) … sacked Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter and forced a fumble on the play that was recovered by Deone Bucannon and set up a Cardinals FG vs. Cin (11/22); was first full sack and first forced fumble of his career; totaled four tackles, two QB pressures and two QB hits ... split sack with Kevin Minter to force a punt on game-opening possession @ SF (11/29); also had two tackles … sacked Sam Bradford and forced a fumble that was recovered by Frostee Rucker in the third quarter @ Phi (12/20); also had four tackles and two QB pressures … had a half-sack with Calais Campbell in the second quarter vs. GB (12/27), part of the Cardinals nine total sacks in the game (third-best single-game total in franchise history and most since recording 10 sacks on 12/7/86 at Philadelphia); tied career high with six tackles, including two for loss … inactive (knee) vs. Sea (1/3/16) … had four tackles, three QB hits and one QB pressure in Divisional Playoff vs. GB (1/16/16) … collected seven tackles, including one for loss, and one QB pressure in NFC Championship Game @ Car (1/24/16).

College:

In three seasons at Missouri, appeared in 39 games (13 starts) and registered 143 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and an INT … returned a fumble recovery 30 yards for a TD (2014) and his only career interception 70 yards for a TD (2013) … voted a team co-captain by his teammates as a senior in 2014 … started 13 games and earned All-SEC second-team honors at DE from the league’s coaches and was an Associated Press All-SEC honorable mention selection as well ... totaled 78 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10.0 sacks and a team-high 12 QB hurries ... also forced three fumbles and recovered three more ... ranked ninth in the nation in tackles for loss and was 20th nationally in sacks … had a career performance in his final college game, earning MVP honors at the Citrus Bowl with a game-high 10 tackles, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks … switched to DE as a junior after beginning college career at LB and was arguably MU’s most productive DE in 2013 despite playing only about 40% of the snaps ... led team’s DEs with 55 tackles on the year and added 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks with eight passes defensed ... appeared in all 12 games in 2012, playing primarily on special teams in his first season with Missouri after transferring from Hutchinson Junior College … totaled 10 tackles and forced a fumble ... was a key performer on various special teams units and helped clear the way for return man Marcus Murphy on each of his record-setting three punt return TDs on the season ... redshirted in 2011 to focus on academics … recorded 90 tackles, including 26 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks as a freshman at Hutchinson JC in 2010 … added five forced fumbles and a pair of INTs.

Personal:

A record-setting running back and linebacker at Affton (St. Louis, MO) High School ... as a senior, ran for a record 2,264 yards and 30 touchdowns while also collecting 108 tackles and 10 sacks ... posted a school-record 168 tackles and 16 sacks as a junior, while also running for 1,139 yards and 16 scores … was a team’s captain each of his final two years … Arizona entered the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft with the 55th overall pick but traded that pick to the Ravens and acquired an extra fifth-round choice (158th overall) before selecting Golden ... in May of 2015, had his high school number (#2) retired during a ceremony at the school … hosted his second annual “Markus Golden” free football camp in his hometown of St. Louis last June.